Palmieri keeps his Worcester City Council seat

WORCESTER — For the sixth time, Philip P. Palmieri has been re-elected District 2 councilor, defeating his opponent, Jennithan Cortes, by 234 votes in the election Tuesday.

"I'm extremely pleased with this outcome," Mr. Palmieri said Tuesday night, noting the diversity of the district. "It is a thrill that they have re-elected me."

Mr. Palmieri won nine of 10 precincts and captured 56 percent of the vote in winning his seventh term on the council.

Mr. Palmieri had been unopposed since 2005, when he slid past Candice Mero Carlson by 102 votes. In 2003 and 2001 he beat Michael Lavin by 183 and 434 votes, respectively.

A retired juvenile probation officer, Mr. Palmieri continues to own commercial property on Shrewsbury Street. Mr. Cortes works as an operations manager for the Department of Career Services in the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

"People's eyes were opened especially since I ran with all the cards stacked against me," Mr. Cortes said via text message after the results were tallied. He did not answer a call to his cellphone but explained by text that he is keeping his options open and intends to run for the seat in 2015 "at a minimum."

The candidates were aligned on most issues facing the district and did not have any debates. Mr. Palmieri's main point was that in the 12 years he has been in office, about $2 billion has been invested in the district. "That doesn't happen by accident," he said.

Mr. Cortes campaigned on the premise of being a "new voice." He argued that different parts of the district were left underfunded and under-represented and said he would work hard to bring that prosperity to "all residents, districts and neighborhoods."

The incumbent outmatched his opponent in fundraising, pulling in about $14,000 since June compared with Mr. Cortes' nearly $5,500, according to Office of Campaign and Political Finance reports that span to the end of October. Neither campaign emptied its account, however, and each spent less than half of what it raised during that time.

The District 2 turnout was about 11 percent. The last time there was a contest for the seat, turnout was 18.6 percent.

District 2 includes Shrewsbury Street, Lincoln Square, lower Burncoat, Lake Avenue north of Hamilton Street, Plumley Village, Main Street north of Charlton Street, the Canal District north of Kelley Square and Grafton Hill north of Hamilton Street.

Contact Alli Knothe at aknothe@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @KnotheA